Tobacco Pricing

Research

Tobacco industry using coupons to keep women and young people addicted
A new study conducted at the University of Minnesota examined the association between use of cigarette coupons and smoking cessation. Previous research has found that raising the price of cigarettes influences an increase in smoking cessation rates. The researchers used data gathered from the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS) Cohort Study, which surveyed 2,436 smokers and recent quitters between 2008 and 2010. Almost half of the smokers reported receiving cigarette coupons, and 80% of respondents who received coupons redeemed them. It was reported that women, youth, and heavier smokers were more likely to have received coupons. Additionally, smokers who used coupons were more likely to hold positive perceptions of the tobacco industry. Smokers who redeemed coupons were also 84% less likely to quit smoking. This study provides evidence that stricter policies regarding cigarette advertising and coupons are needed in order to prevent these marketing tactics from discouraging smokers from attempting to quit. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access a fact sheet and video about the findings. Click here for the abstract of the study in the journal Tobacco Control.

As cigarette taxes go up, heavy smoking goes down
A recent study conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine examined the effect of state cigarette price changes on smoking behaviors. Data gathered from a national study on alcohol and related conditions were used to identify 7,068 smokers. Individuals’ smoking behaviors were assessed at baseline and again three years later. Multivariate regression showed that in states that enacted a cigarette tax increase of at least 35% during the study, heavier smokers significantly reduced the amount of cigarettes smoked per day from an average of 40 cigarettes (two packs) to an average of 14 less cigarettes per day. There was a more modest reduction in smoking among smokers who smoked less at baseline. This study reinforces evidence that changes to cigarette pricing influence smoking behaviors. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access the study abstract in Tobacco Control.

Genetics vs. tobacco taxes: The limits of public policy aimed at reducing smoking
A new study suggests that genetics may explain why some smokers’ tobacco purchasing habits are not affected by tax increases. Genetic data were analyzed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the early 1990s in combination with state tobacco taxation rates. Apparently, a specific variation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA6) genotype makes certain individuals less likely to continue smoking as a result of a tobacco tax increase, and another variation was more common among those unaffected by the tax increase. According to the data, 49% of Americans have the latter genetic trait, which may explain why the U.S. smoking prevalence has plateaued since the 1990s. This study provides evidence that while tobacco tax increases may be effective for some smokers, other policies may need to be implemented in order to promote smoking cessation among individuals with the genetic trait that is resistant to tax increases. Click here to read more, or click here to read the study, which was published in PLoS One.

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